Drilling machine suspension

ABSTRACT

A drilling machine is mounted on a slide which is movable along a feed beam. The drilling machine is connected to the slide by means of a hinge which is situated farther from the feed beam than the drill axis defined by the drilling machine. Furthermore an elastic element has been provided between the drilling machine and the slide, the stiffness of the elastic element being such that the direction of the drill axis is independent of the applied feed force.

Ilnited States Patent 1191 Lagerstedt et al.

[ 1 Sept. 17, 1974 DRILLING MACHINE SUSPENSION [75] Inventors: John Arne Lagerstedt, Skarholmen; Jan Edvard Persson, Nacka, both of Sweden [73] Assignee: Atlas Copco Aktiebolag, Nacka,

Sweden [22] Filed: Sept. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 400,825

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 6, 1972 Sweden 12988/72 [52] US. Cl. 173/162, 173/147 [51] Int. Cl. ..E21c 1/00, E210 5/06 [58] Field of Search 173/147, 162

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,041 5/1934 Hansen 173/162 2,964,305 12/1960 Samhammer et al. 173/162 2,985,249 5/1961 Beaumont 173/147 3,162,253 12/1964 Curtis 173/147 Primary ExaminerJames A. Leppink [57] ABSTRACT A drilling machine is mounted on a slide which is movable along a feed beam. The drilling machine is connected to the slide by means of a hinge which is situated farther from the feed beam than the drill axis defined by the drilling machine. Furthermore an elastic element has been provided between the drilling machine and the slide, the stiffness of the elastic element being such that the direction of the drill axis is independent of the applied feed force.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDSEP 1 11914 3; 835836 SHEET 10F 3 PMENTED SEP] 7 I974 v sum 3 or a DRILLING MACHINE SUSPENSION The present invention relates to devices at rock drilling machines or similar machines which comprise a feed beam, a slide movable along the feed beam, and a drilling machine connected to the slide and defining the drill axis of a drill string.

In known devices of the above mentioned kind the drilling machine is usually rigidly connected to the slide to which a feed force is applied which does not act coaxially with the drill axis. Through this the slide is subjected to a moment which tilts the slide backwards. This occurs partly because of play between the slide and the feed beam and partly because of deformations of the feed beam and the slide. Through this the drill string is subjected to a bending load from which risk for buckling and for contact with the edge of the drill hole will follow. The latter risk is especially serious in connection with so-called diamond drilling which takes place at high numbers of revolution. There is a risk that the drill string is rapidly cut off against the edge of the drill hole. This particulary if the drill string consists of aluminum tubes.

The present invention has for its purpose to solve these problems. According to the invention the drilling machine is connected to the slide by means of a hinge which is directed transversly to the drill axis such that the drill axis is situated between the hinge and the thrust line of the feed force. An elastic element is arranged between the drilling machine and the slide and is so dimensioned relative to the distance between the hinge and the drill axis that the backward tilting of the slide is compensated. A further advantage in the invention is that the vibration level is kept low because the stiffness of the suspension is different in different planes through the drill axis.

The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing on which FIG. 1 shows a drill ring in which the invention forms a part.

FIG. 2 shows a part of the rig according to FIG. 1 on a larger scale.

FIG. 3 shows the machine in section according to 33 in FIG. 2.

The drill rig shown in FIG. 1 is mainly meant for drilling with diamond bits and comprises a frame 1. The frame 1 is provided with runners 2 and a power aggregate 3 which comprises a motor and one or more hydraulic pumps. The runners 2 can, if that be the wish, be substituted by wheels. A holder 24 for a feed beam 4 is via a hinge 5 connected to the frame 1 and maneuvered by means of a hydraulic cylinder 6. A hydraulic cylinder 7 is arranged to move the feed beam 4 in relation to the holder 24 via a fixture 25. A motor 8 is arranged on the feed beam 4 for moving a drilling machine 12 along the feed beam 4 via a chain 9 in a conventional manner. The feed beam is furthermore provided with a staionarily arranged chain 11 which cooperates with a sprocket on a reel 10. This sprocket also cooperates with the chain 9. Through this is achieved that the reel 10, around which hydraulic conduits 28 for conducting hydraulic fluid to or from the drilling machine 12 are passed, is driven by half the speed of the drilling-machine. A unit 27 for handling drill tubes is arranged on the front part of the feed beam 4.

A slide 13, 19 is, which is best shown in FIG. 3, by

means of plates 21, 22 guided by the feed beam 4. The

plates are connected to the slide by means of screws 23. The drilling machine 12 is connected to the slide 13, 19 by means of a hinge 20, 26 which consists of two screws 16 provided with pivots 20 which are arranged on the slide and cooperating with recesses 26 in the drilling machine. The drilling machine 12 defines a drill axis 15 for a drill string 14. The drill axis 15 is situated between the hinge 20, 26 and the thrust line of the chain 9. An elastic element l7, 18, which consists of a rubber cushion 17 and two therewith by means of vulcanization connected metal plates 18, is connected partly to the slide l3, l9 and partly to the drilling machine 12 by means of screws 29. By choosing the stiffness of the elastic element '17, 18 in a suitable way in relation to the distance e between the hinge 20, 26 and the drill axis 15 is achieved, at drilling, a turning of the drilling machine 12 round the hinge 20, 26 which compensates the backward tilting of the slide l3, 19 caused by the eccentrically applied feed force.

The above described and on the drawing shown embodiment is only to regard as an example which can be modified within the scope of the subsequent claims.

What we claim is:

l. A device relating to drilling machines and comprising a feed beam, a slide movable along the feed beam, and a drilling machine to which a drill string is connectable, said drilling machine being connected to the slide by means of a hinge, directed transversely to the drill axis of said drill string, and an elastic element arranged between the drilling machine and the slide for opposing rotation round said hinge, said drill axis being situated between said hinge and the feed beam.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the hinge comprises two pivots arranged on the slide and two therewith cooperating recesses in the drilling machine.

plates rigidly connected to the rubber cushion. 

1. A device relating to drilling machines and comprising a feed beam, a slide movable along the feed beam, and a drilling machine to which a drill string is connectable, said drilling machine being connected to the slide by means of a hinge, directed transversely to the drill axis of said drill string, and an elastic element arranged between the drilling machine and the slide for opposing rotation round said hinge, said drill axis being situated between said hinge and the feed beam.
 2. A device according to claim 1, in which the hinge comprises two pivots arranged on the slide and two therewith cooperating recesses in the drilling machine.
 3. A device according to claim 2, in which the elastic element comprises a rubber cushion and two metal plates rigidly connected to the rubber cushion. 